"Quarrydene" was the name of my great grandmother's country estate in Castleford, Yorkshire, England. It was also her kennel name while she was breeding dogs in the early 1900s. Because of her, my grandmother, and then my mother continued on breeding and showing Cairns. I am proudly carrying on a family legacy. Below is some history of our family, with many wonderful old pictures of our Cairns.
I have grown up with Cairns as an integral part of family life. As a youngster I was always attending dog shows with my mother, and was an active Junior Handler. My favorite Cairn at home was Highhedges Thumbelina (as you can tell my mother let me name her). We had many special moments together, and I showed her too many titles. Today I am a keen enthusiast, breeding, showing, and caring for a small household of Cairns. All my dogs are house pets who either live with me and my husband, or friends who also have a love for Cairns.
I am trying to breed Cairn Terriers of high standards, not only in structure but in temperament and health. Most of my dogs are of Scandinavian descent, as that is where I believe some of the most beautiful Cairns have been bred. I might have 1 or 2 litters of puppies each year, with the objective of always keeping some for myself to continue on this wonderful adventure of breeding , showing and owning the best little pal in the world .
With a lifetime with the breed, I have lots of knowledge and experience to share.
Enjoy your visit, and please contact me, via email, if you desire to learn a little more about my Cairn Terriers.
History
Many Cairn breeders in Canada had their start with Highhedges and CannyCairn Cairns. You can still find in the depth of pedigrees, the breeding programs of my mother, grandmother and even my great grandmother.
QUARRYDENE (GREATGRANDMOTHER, FLORENCE MILSOM)
Cairns have been in our family for close to 80 years, thanks to my Great Grandmother, Florence Milsom. It was her passion for animals that drew her to Cairn Terriers in the 1930s, in Yorkshire, England. Since then the women of the family have continued on with her passion of breeding and showing Cairns. Florence's kennel name was "Quarrydene" and in her honor I have adopted it for my own. The name Quarrydene came about, as a large quarry surrounded the family home in Castleford, Yorkshire.
HIGHHEDGES (GRANDMOTHER, BARBARA HOLLINGS, 1910-2003)
My grandmother, Barbara Hollings, worked closely with her mother as she developed her own breeding program in England, after the Second World War. Her kennel name was "Highhedges". Like her mother, her kennel name was related to her home, as the house had high hedges all around it. Barbara was most active in Cairns, in England in the 1950's, until she moved to Canada bringing two of her favorite girls with her (Oona Of Highhedges and Nina Of Highhedges). That was the beginning of Highhedges in Canada.
CANNYCAIRNS (MOTHER, SHIRLEY CANFIELD, 1934- 2022)
My mother, Shirley Canfield, was the recipient of one of her mother's Cairns, Folly Of Highhedges, who traveled to Canada by ferry. Folly was the foundation bitch for my mom, and many great Cairns in North America were the result of this imported girl. Shirley's kennel name was "CannyCairns", and Shirley was most successful in the North American show ring in the 1970's. As Cairns were "canny" little dogs, my mother and grandmother thought CannyCairns was an appropriate kennel name for my mothers breeding program.
